Chain saw construction



Dec. 26, 1939. A. w. MALL CHAIN SAW CONSTRUCTION 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledOct. 4, 1957 Dec. 26, 1939. f A. w. MALL 1 2,184,461

.CHAIN SAW CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct 4, 1937 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 26, 1939. w.MALL 2, ,461

CHAIN SAW CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 4, 1937 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 12a v v L73213 IZI\ fcl Dec. 26, 1939;, A. w. MALL, 7 2,184,461

CHAIN SAW CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 1957 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 A. w. MALL2,184,461

. CHAIN SAW CONSTRUCTION Dec. 26, 1939.

Filed Oct. 4, 1937 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 26, 1939. I w, MALL 2,184,461

CHAIN SAW CONSTRUCTION Filed 001:. 4, 1957 1O Sheets-Sheet e wM/m zzDec. 26, 1939. A. w. MALL 'GHAIN SAW CONSTRUCTION Fi led Oct.- 4. 1957l0 Sheets-Sheet 7 fave/2Z0] Dec. 26,1939. A. w. MALL 2,184,461

' 01mm SAW consmucnon Filed Oct. 4, 19:57 10 Sheets-Sheet 8llllllu-llllllllllll Mull-I- Dec.26,1939. AQW AL I 2,184,461

7 CHAIN SAW CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct; 4. 1937 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 Dec. 21939.

A. W. MALL CHAIN SAW CONSTRUCTION 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Oct 4, 1937Patented Dec. 26, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in the construction of chain sawsand similar subject matter.

- My invention relates more particularly to a 6 portable chain saw ofthe type whichis driven from a remote source of power.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improvedportable chain saw so constructed that the same may be driven from aremote source of power by a. flexible shaft mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved meansassociated withthe chain saw whereby the speed of the same may be easilycontrolled from apoint adjacent one of the handles of the saw.

A'further object of the invention is to provide an improved supportingframe and saw chain linkage so arranged that a minimum of friction isobtained, thereby providing a highly efllcient and greatly improved sawconstruction.

A further object is to provide improved means for increasing theefliciency of the saw, including I cooling means associated with thepulleys over 26 which the saw chain is trained and improved positivefeed lubricating means associated with the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedlubricating system for mechanism of the type described.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new andimproved'construction of saw chain including improved side links anddrag links so arranged that the same operates with a minimum of frictionand the greatest of efliciency.

- A further object of the invention is to provide an improved flexibleshaft drive and transmission supported adjacent one endof the saw.

A furtherobject is to provide an improved frame having lubricatingconduits arranged throughout so that the chain saw links will receivelubrication throughout their travel, thereby greatly increasing theefliciency of the same.

Other objects and advantages will be more apparent from the followingdescription, wherein reference is had to the accompanying ten sheets ofdrawings, upon which Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my improvedsaw construction;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the flexible driveconnection to the transmission with parts thereof broken away in sectionto more clearly show other parts;

Figs. 3 and 3A are enlarged fragmentary side elevational views showingthe two ends of the saw assembly; I

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view through the transmission anddrive for the saw, taken generally on the lines 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the center of the chain saw and thedriving sprocket, taken generally on the line 5-5 of.Fig..4;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through one end of the chainsaw'support frame and is taken generally on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3A;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the oil pump and drivingmeans taken generally on the lines"l'| of Fig. 6, with the chain saw andframe parts omitted;

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the frame guide;

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view of the same, showing the chain sawtrained thereabout and is taken generally on the line 9-9 of Fig. 1; 20

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of one of the side lin-ks;

, Fig. 11 is an end elevational view of the same; Fig. 12 is a sideelevational view of one of the drag links of which the chain saw isconstituted; 25

Fig. 13 is a side elevational view thereof, and

Fig. 14 is a plan view of the drag link.

Fig. 15 is a general assembly view showing a portable gasoline engine,flexible shaft and'the portable saw of my invention; 0

Fig. 16 is a longitudinal sectional view of a clutch element shown atthe saw, connected to the flexible shaft; and I Fig. 17 is across-sectional view thereof taken on the lines l1-l'l of Fig. 16. 35

In the embodiment of the invention which I have chosen to illustrate, Ihave shown in Fig. 1 a portable saw designated generally by the numberID. The portable saw may generally comprise the support brackets l2 andM, the saw 0 frame [6 which connects the same, and the block chain l8(shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1), which is trained? about a pair ofsprockets 2D and 22'mounted in the brackets 12 and Hi respectively. Itwill be noted in connection with the 45. bracket l2, that I haveprovided a transmission housing 24 to which a flexible driveshaft 26 isconnected. The driveshaft 26 may extend to any suitable source of power,such as the portable gasoline engine 28, to which it may be connected bya suitable centrifugal clutch mechanism 30 at the engine, which isadapted to slip whenthe load becomes too great or the saw Jams, thuscutting out the driving force to the saw and avoiding breakage of thechain saw as well as preventing accidents.

In connection with the drive for the saw, which will be explained later,I provide a speed control for the action of the saw, adapted to bemanipulated by one of the operators of the saw. This control may includea throttle handle 32 adapted to be slidably mounted upon a rigid section34 of the flexible shaft connection to the transmission housing 24. Thehandle member 32, (see Fig. 2), is provided with a knurled portion 36for a hand grip, and a collar member 38 to which a comparativelyflexible wire 48 may be v thereby accelerating the speed of the saw.Conversely, to reduce the speed of the saw, av backward movement of thehandle 32 will reduce the speed oi the driving engin 28.

The flexible shaft 26 and its housing, which includes the rigid sleevemember 34, are adapted to be connected to a rigid driveshaft 48 which ismounted in a shell 58 secured in a suitably tapped opening 52 in thetransmission housing 24. The shell may be locked in position by a locknut member 54. The rigidsh'aft 48 may be mounted in suitable ballbearingmembers 58 in the shell 58 and extend forward and directly engage ashaft member 58 which is supported in a suitable 'ballbearing member .88in the housing 24. A]

driving p nion 62 may be secured to the end of the shaft 58 and be indriving relation with a bevel gear 64 that is mounted upon a right angleshaft 66. A sprocket 28, previously mentioned,-

is secured to the driving shaft 88 by means of a shear pin lockmechanism 68 so that under undue stra n the drive to the saw will bebroken at this point. The shaft 66 thus formedmay' have one end suitablyjournalled in the ballbearing' members 18 mounted in a journal 12 formedin one portion of the transmission housing 24.

The opposite end of the shaft, as previously mentioned, is formed with asplined end 14 to enter complementary slots in the gear 84. The gear 64is formed'with a hub portion I6 which is suitablyjournalled inballbearing member I8 located in a suitable journal 88 in the housing24. A d rt and oil seal 82 is also provided in the journal 88 to preventsawdust or any other sediment thrown out by the saw from entering thehearing 18 or any other portion of the interior of the housing 24. Asuitable seal member 84 performs the ;;me function to protect thebearing mem- The gear 86 may be suitably connected to a pilot shaft 88which is aligned with the driveshaft 86, and provides rigidity for thesame. The shaft 8 may be formed with a flange 88 through which therivets 98 connect the same to the gear 84, and may have its opposite endpositioned in a suitable ballbearing member 92 located in a suitablesocket 94 in a sleeve member 96 mounted in the upper open end 98 of thehousing 24. A suitable cover member I88, fastened through the sleeve andtothe housing 24 by suit-' able screw members I82, effectively preventsdust or any other sediment from entering the housing from thisdirection. As an additional precaution to preventing the entrance of d tQ1 sediment to the gear housing, I provide the packing member I84 at thebearing member 92.

The housing 24, as thus described, completely encloses the drivingconnections between the .flexible shaft 28 and the sprocket 28 aboutwhich the saw chain I8 is trained. The housing is also provided with thehandle portions I86 and I88 extending upward and below the sprocketwheel. The housing 24 is adapted to be connected to the frame guide I6by means of the bolt members II8 which pass through the elongated slotsII2.

' A chainv adjusting device is provided for the purpose of moving thehousing 24 and associated parts in the event the chain becomes slack andit is necessary to draw up on the same. This is accomplished by means ofa collar H4 mounted upon a jam member II6 that has a lip II8 extendinginto a suitable groove 528 in the edge of the saw frame. The jam memberH8 hasa threaded bolt portion I22 which extends through andscrew-threadedly engages the collar II4.

Thus, by turning the collar H4 in its position.

against the edge of the frame sections I24, and with the bolts H8untightened in the elongated .slots II2, there will be a direct breachwidening movement between the saw frame I6 and the housing 24. In thismanner the entire housing is moved toward or away from the frame, thustightening or loosening the slack in the saw chain.

A suitable chain guard I28 may be fastened tothe handle portion I88 bymeans of a bolt member I28 and extend from a saddle I38 at one end ofthe housing 24 to a point engaging the oil tank on the bracket I4.

Referring now to Figs. 3A, 6 and 1, the bracket I4 may be connected tothe saw frame I8 by a pair of bolt members I32 which may be connectedwith the arms I34 and I38 on the bracket I4 and extend through similarelongated slots II 2'. The bracket I4 may be formed with a pair ofjournals I38 for end bearings I48 of an idler shaft I42 upon which theidler sprocket 22 is mounted. The bracket maybe further formed with thearm members I44 extending downwardly on both sides thereof and the armsI48 extending upwardly therefrom. The arms provide a support for theparallel rod members I48 which extend forward to support the bracketsI34 and I38, and rearward to support the handle bracket I58. Anelongated handle member I52 is secured ina suitable socket in the handle(58 by a thumb screw fastener member I54 and is capable of being rigidlylocked in position either in the plane of the saw frame I6 or at rightangles thereto.

The frame I4 upon the arms I46 is adapted to support an oil reservoirI58 secured thereto by suitable angle iron members I58. I provide an oilconduit I88 extending from the tank I56 to a pump housing I62 withinwhich a plunger I84 is slidably mounted, being normally held in anoutward pos tion by a coiled spring member I86 positioned in thecylinder I88. ifhe plunger I64 is thus yieldingly pressed against aneccentric I18 on the idler shaft I42 and is capable of recipro- Theconduit I12 is preferably copper tubing, or some similar substancecapable of slight distortion, so that in the event the housing I4 ismoved away from or closer to the saw frame I8,

the lubricatingsystem will not be affected. In connection with thisarrangement, the conduit I12 is provided with an elbow I18 that isscrewthreadedly mounted in an opening I18 which outer edges IIidextending beyond the outer sections to form a track for the sawchain, aswill presently be apparent.

The inner section I6c is formed with a large rectangular cavity I8ewhich is adapted to be filled with cotton waste or other absorbent A, sothat when oil from the pump is forced into the cavity the same willgradually saturate the waste and' regulate the flow of the oil to thechain tracks.

The central section I8c of the chain frame is further provided with thediagonally extending grooves I8, upon one face thereof, which areadapted to communicate with the chain tracks around the edges of thesame. In this manner it can beseen that as the saw is operating, witheach rotation of the sprocket 22 oil will be pumped into the chamber I8ein the saw frame and through the diagonal slots I6 The oil willgradually be forced outwardly on the chain track, thus providing at alltimes an effective lubrica- 'tion of the chain track.

Each of the sprocket wheels 28 and 22 are formed with combined side linksupports and fan elements 2I and 28 which extend to opposite to blow thesawdust and other sediment away from the side of the saw, thuspreventing the same from settling on the brackets, and also blowing thesame away from the operators.

The chain saw I8, previously mentioned and shown in detail in Figs. 10to 14 respectively, may be constructed of a plurality of connected setsof drag links I82 and side links I84. Each of the drag links I82 isformed with a flat, thin body.

portion I88. a pair of downwardly extending ear portions I88 and I88upon opposite ends thereof, and facing chisel portions I82 and- I84 onthe extended upper ends of the body portions.

ness to extend upon both sides of the other sections of the drag link.Each of the ears I88 and I98 are formed with the drilled openings I88and I98 through which the pins I88 extend- The side links I84 are formedwith a flat bottom wall 288, a comparatively rectangular body portion282, and an outwardly and upwardly extending arm 284 formed in itsperpendicular portion with a triangular pointed end 288. The end 288 isadapted to be formed with knife edges 288,

The chisel portions I82 and I84 are of sufllclent thick- 2 I8, upon itsangular sides. I provide the drilled openings 2I2, 2 and 2I8 through thebody portion 282 of the link. A

In assembling together the drag links and the side links, it will benoted (see Fig. 5), that the drag links I84 are connected together uponthe pin I88 and also through the drilled opening 2 to a pair of the draglinks I82. The side links are identical in shape but are reversed inposition so that lefts and rights are provided upon opposite sides ofthe drag links. '-In this manner the drag links are connected togetherand to side links upon each side upon pins that extend through theopening 2l4, and theside links are connected together upon oppositesides of the drag links upon the pins 228 and 222 that are mounted inthe openings 2I2 and 2I8 respectively. To thus connect the side linksupon the sides of the drag links will leave considerable space betweenthe same and accordingly applicant provides the rollers 224 upon each ofthe pins 228 and 222. It is these rollers which are contacted by theteeth 25 of the sprocket wheels as they revolve and carry the chainforward about the sprocket wheels. In movement of the chain thus formedabout the sprocket wheels, it

will be noted that the lower edge 288 of the side links I84 rests uponthe edge of the vanes 2I and 28 and also upon the peripheral edges 228and 228 of the frame members IGa and I8b. It is thus apparent thatthroughout the travel of'the chain the most effective means for drivingthe chain has been provided as well as a support for the chain at thepoints where the least amount of friction-would obtain. The rollers 224are preferably steel case hardened'rollers which obviously are capableof considerable wear, and the lower edge 288 'of the side links isfinished so that a smooth riding surface isprovided for engagement withthe tracks 228 and 228.

From the above description of the chain I8, it will be obvious that theassembly of the same is simple and yet when the same is assembledtogether an unusual strong chain has been provided. The chain, ashereinbefore explained,

travels over the tracks in saw guide I8 whichare lubricated asheretofore explained. It is also trained about the sprockets 28 and 22that are mounted in the brackets on the opposite ends of the saw.

As hereinbei'ore mentioned, one of the features of this inventionresides in the fact that I provide a centrifugal clutch mechanism 38 atthe engine 28 which is adapted to slip when the load becomes too greator the saw jams. This clutch will at all times protect the saw mechanismand prevent breakage which might occur under unusual circumstances.

I have also described a throttle handle 82 connected with a speedcontrol or governor on the engine and mounted on the flexible shaftadjacent the tubular extension 88 at the housing 24.

It is sometimes desirable to have a clutch capable of manualmanipulation. For this purpose, in Figs. 16 and 17, I have shown aclutch member 248 screw-threadedly-mounted on the rigid sleeve member 84attached to the transmission housing 24. The clutch may be of a wellknown type at present on the market, and may include the rigid shaftmember 242 provided with the splined tip 244 for engagement with theshaft 88 a in the transmission housing.

The shaft 242 may be mounted in suitable bearings 248 in a clutchhousing 248 and be provided with a cup-shaped end 288 within which theusual disc plate" clutch members '252 are mounted and connected forrotation. I provide the sliding. clutch plates 254 mounted between theclutch plates 252; the plates 254 being keyed to a driveshaft 256mounted in the ballbearin members 258 and 260 in the housing 248, and asleeve member 262 screw-threadedly connected thereto. The shaft 266 maybe provided with an axial opening 264 and a drive nut 286 toreceive' thesplined tip of the flexible driveshaft 2G.

The control ringf268 may be telescopically mounted upon the clutchhousing 248 and be provided with a pair of inwar y projecting studmembers 210 that engage in suitable openinz 212 in split thrust ringportions 214. and- 216.

These split thrust rings are connected together by the pin members 218.The thrust ring may be positioned in the groove .280 in the clutchshifter member -282 which, upon being thrust forward, bears against theball 284 to press the clutch plates 252 .and 254 together through the'mote from the engine can engage. or disen e the saw according to thework at hand.

In thepreferred construction of my improved saw combination, I provide aportable ,carriage 290 upon which the engine 28 may be'mounted in v aswiveling manner so that the carriage can be transported to thevicinityof the work and the flexible shaft can extend to where the work istaking place. The carriage 2" may be provided with the'usual liftinghandles 292 and the barrel wheel 284 so that able.

the same is easily transportthereby.

From the above and foregoing description it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that, I have provided a highly eflicient chain sawand a drive therefor. It will be obvious that the entire assembly,including the flexible shaft and'theportable saw, may be supported uponthe carriage 29!! together with the portable engine and moved about by asingle operator. It will be apparent also that by the use of eitherthemanual clutch or the centrifugal clutchat the engine, a highlysatisfactory saw and operating mechanism has been provided.

. While I have illustrated and described a specific embodiment 'of theinvention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changesand modifications may be madegn the exact details shown, and I do notwish to limit myself in any particular. Rather, what I desire to secureand protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

' In a sewing machine, a portable gasoline engine having a throttle, aflexible shaft having a driving connection at one end with said engine,a flexible housing enclosing said shaft and attached atone end to saidengine, a saw frame having a rigid hollow handle attached to the otherend of said housing, sprockets Journalled on the respective ends of saidframe, one of said sprockets being operating the same. when said sleeveis moved longitudinally of said handle, said control cable beingassociated with said flexible housing throughout its length 'andsupported and guided

